Air conditioner

ABSTRACT

An air conditioner principally includes a casing having a casing lower part formed by an alternating sequence of four panel side parts and four corner parts. The casing further has main outlets disposed along each of the panel side parts, and auxiliary outlets disposed at the corner parts. The air conditioner further includes horizontal flaps rotatable supported about longitudinal axes of the main outlets. A circumferential edge part of each of the auxiliary outlets is formed so that the air from each of the auxiliary outlets is blown out in a fixed direction.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an air conditioner, and moreparticularly relates to an air conditioner provided in the ceiling of anair conditioned room.

RELATED ART

A conventional air conditioner provided in the ceiling of an airconditioned room principally comprises: a casing having a casing lowerpart formed by an alternating sequence of four side parts and fourcorner parts; outlets disposed so that each runs along a side part andan inlet disposed so that it is surrounded by all the side parts; a fanand a heat exchanger disposed inside the casing; and horizontal flapseach oscillatably provided around the axis of each outlet in thelongitudinal direction and capable of varying the wind direction of theair current blown out from each outlet. A motor, link mechanisms, andthe like, for oscillating these horizontal flaps, are disposed at thecorner parts of a face panel that constitutes the casing lower part in,for example, a ceiling embedded type air conditioner (e.g., refer toPatent Document 1). With such an air conditioner, driving the fan sucksthe air inside the air conditioned room through the inlets into thecasing, and the air sucked into the casing is heated or cooled by theheat exchanger and then blown out in four directions through theoutlets.

Incidentally, to regulate the temperature inside the air conditionedroom at a prescribed temperature, it is preferable to increase the flowvolume of the air blown out from the air conditioner as much aspossible. However, if the flow volume of the air blown out from each ofthe outlets is increased, then the flow speed of the air blown out fromeach of the outlets increases, which unfortunately generates a draft,making it impossible to achieve a satisfactory air current distributioninside the air conditioned room.

Therefore, an air conditioner has been proposed that provides an arcuateoutlet that surrounds the inlet, and blows out air radially through thisoutlet (e.g., refer to Patent Document 2). With this air conditioner,forming the outlet arcuately enables the enlargement of the opening areaof the outlet, consequently enabling the flow volume of the air blownout from the outlet to be increased while suppressing an increase in theflow speed of the air blown out from the outlet.

However, with this air conditioner, because the shape of the outlet isarcuate, the horizontal flap must be made so that it can be slidvertically when the horizontal flap is oscillated, and a slide mechanismis consequently further provided in order to slide this horizontal flap.This slide mechanism principally comprises: an oscillating linkintegrally formed with the horizontal flap; a lever whose one end iscoupled by a pin to the oscillating link and whose other end is linkedto the rotary shaft of the motor; a spring that connects the lever andthe casing; a slide shaft integrally formed with the horizontal flap;and a guiding groove that guides the slide shaft vertically. Further,the slide shaft is guided vertically along the guiding groove and thehorizontal flap is slid vertically by the drive of the motor and theelasticity of the spring, thus enabling the wind direction of the aircurrent blown out from the outlet to be varied.

Thus, with such an air conditioner, the blowing of the air out from thearcuate outlet increases the flow volume of the air and enables thesatisfactory air current distribution inside the air conditioned room;however, it requires the provision of the slide mechanism, whichconsequently complicates the constitution in order to vary the winddirection of the air current blown out from the outlet, and increasesthe cost.

Patent Document 1

Japanese Examined Patent Application No. H7-69571

Patent Document 2

Japanese Published Patent Application No. 2001-201165

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention, in an air conditioner providedin the ceiling of an air conditioned room, to make the air currentdistribution inside the air conditioned room satisfactory, and tosimplify the structure needed to regulate the wind direction of the aircurrent blown out from each of the outlets

The air conditioner according to the first invention is an airconditioner provided in the ceiling of an air conditioned room,comprising a casing and horizontal flaps. The casing comprises: a casinglower part formed by an alternating sequence of four side parts and fourcorner parts; main outlets disposed so that they run along each of theside parts; an inlet disposed so that it is surrounded by all the sideparts; and auxiliary outlets disposed at at least one of the four cornerparts. The horizontal flaps are oscillatably provided about the axes ofthe main outlets in the longitudinal direction, and capable of varyingthe wind direction of an air current blown out from each of the mainoutlets. The circumferential edge part of each of the auxiliary outletsis formed so that air is blown out from each of the auxiliary outlets ina fixed direction.

With this air conditioner, the air sucked from the inlet into the casingis blown out into the air conditioned room through the four main outletsand the auxiliary outlets disposed at at least one of the four cornerparts. Here, the air blown out from each of the auxiliary outlets isdragged by the air current blown out from each of the adjacent mainoutlets, and its wind direction tends to change. Consequently, by theoscillation of the horizontal flaps provided at the main outletsadjacent to these auxiliary outlets, the air blown out from each of theauxiliary outlets is changed so that it faces a direction the same asthe wind direction of the air current blown out from each of the mainoutlets into the air conditioned room. By taking advantage of thischaracteristic, the wind direction of the air blown out from each of theauxiliary outlets can be varied, even if blown out in a fixed direction,without providing at each of the auxiliary outlets a mechanism, such asa horizontal flap, for varying the wind direction in the verticaldirection of the air blown out from each of the auxiliary outlets.

Thus, with this air conditioner, the flow volume of the air is increasedby the provision of the auxiliary outlets, the air current distributioninside the air conditioned room can be made satisfactory, and theconstitution for regulating the blow-out direction can be simplified.

The air conditioner according to the second invention is an airconditioner as recited in the first invention, wherein the opening areaof each of the auxiliary outlets is less than that of each of the mainoutlets.

With this air conditioner, because the flow speed of the air blown outfrom each of the main outlets does not decrease significantly, the aircurrent distribution inside the air conditioned room can be madesatisfactory by the provision of the auxiliary outlets, and the airblown out from each of the main outlets can reach as far as possible.

The air conditioner according to the third invention is an airconditioner as recited in the first invention or the second invention,wherein the vertical blow-out direction of the air blown out from eachof the auxiliary outlets is the direction of substantially the middle ofthe range by which each of the horizontal flaps vertically regulate thewind direction of the air current blown out from each of the mainoutlets.

With this air conditioner, the air blown out from each of the auxiliaryoutlets is blown out in a direction close to the blow-out direction ofthe air current blown out from each of the main outlets, which makes iteasily affected by the air current blown out from each of the mainoutlets; consequently, it is dragged by the air current blown out fromeach of the main outlets, tracking characteristics are improved whenvarying the wind direction of the air current blown out from each of theauxiliary outlets, and the air current distribution inside the airconditioned room can be further satisfactorily maintained.

The air conditioner according to the fourth invention is an airconditioner as recited in any one invention of the first inventionthrough the third invention, wherein link mechanisms for mutually andsynchronously oscillating two adjoining horizontal flaps are provided atthe corner parts among the four corner parts provided with the auxiliaryoutlets. each of the link mechanisms is disposed on the inlet side ofeach of the auxiliary outlets.

With this air conditioner, disposing the link mechanisms on the inletside of the auxiliary outlets enables both the auxiliary outlets and thelink mechanisms to be provided at the corner parts, without modifyingthe plan shape of the casing.

The air conditioner according to the fifth invention is an airconditioner as recited in fourth invention, wherein each of the twohorizontal flaps has linking pins provided at a position on the innerside in the longitudinal direction of the end part in the longitudinaldirection of the horizontal flaps, axially supported by the casing lowerpart, and linked to the link mechanisms.

With this air conditioner, each horizontal flap can be linked to a linkmechanism at a position on the inner side in the longitudinal directionof the end part thereof in the longitudinal direction; consequently, thelink mechanism can be disposed further on the inlet side of theauxiliary outlet, and the auxiliary outlets can therefore be formedeasily at the corner parts.

BRIEF EXPLANATION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an air conditioner accordingto one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side cross sectional view of the air conditioner,and is a cross sectional view taken along the A-O-A line in FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan cross sectional view of the air conditioner,and is a cross sectional view taken along the B-B line in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a face panel of the air conditioner, viewedfrom inside the air conditioned room.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of FIG. 2, and depicts the vicinity of a mainoutlet passageway corresponding to a main outlet.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of FIG. 2, and depicts the vicinity of anauxiliary outlet passageway corresponding to an auxiliary outlet.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of FIG. 4, and depicts the vicinity of anauxiliary outlet (one part of a panel lower surface part is shown as abroken view).

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view taken along the C-C line in FIG. 3.

FIG. 9 is a schematic plan cross sectional view of the air conditioneraccording to another embodiment, and is a view that corresponds to FIG.3.

EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS

-   1 Air conditioner-   2 Casing-   3 Face panel (casing lower part)-   7 Drain pan (casing lower part)-   30 a-30 d Panel side parts (side parts)-   30 e-30 h Panel corner parts (corner parts)-   32 a-32 d Main outlets-   31 Inlet-   32 e-32 h Auxiliary outlets-   35 a-35 d Horizontal flaps (horizontal flaps)-   36 Linking pin-   37 Linking shaft (link mechanism)-   X, Y Air currents

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following explains the embodiments of an air conditioner accordingto the present invention, referencing the drawings.

(1) Basic Constitution of the Air Conditioner

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an air conditioner 1 accordingto one embodiment of the present invention (ceiling is not shown). Theair conditioner 1 is a ceiling embedded type air conditioner, andcomprises a casing 2 that internally houses various constituentequipment. The casing 2 comprises a casing main body 2 a, and a facepanel 3 disposed on the lower side of the casing main body 2 a. As shownin FIG. 2, the casing main body 2 a is disposed inserted into an openingformed in a ceiling U of the air conditioned room. Furthermore, the facepanel 3 is disposed so that it is fitted into the opening of the ceilingU. Here, FIG. 2 is a schematic side cross sectional view of the airconditioner 1, and is a cross sectional view taken along the A-O-A linein FIG. 3.

<Casing Main Body>

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the casing main body 2 a is, in a planview thereof, a box shaped body whose substantially octagonal lowersurface is open and formed by alternating long sides and short sides,and comprising: a substantially octagonal top plate 21 formed by analternating sequence of long sides and short sides; and a side plate 22extending downward from a circumferential edge part of the top plate 21.Here, FIG. 3 is a schematic plan cross sectional view of the airconditioner 1, and is a cross sectional view taken along the B-B line inFIG. 2.

The side plate 22 comprises side plates 22 a, 22 b, 22 c, 22 dcorresponding to the long sides of the top plate 21, and side plates 22e, 22 f, 22 g, 22 h corresponding to the short sides of the top plate21. Here, for example, the side plate 22 d and the side plate 22 a aredisposed so that they are mutually substantially orthogonal with theside plate 22 e interposed therebetween. The other side plates 22 a, 22b, side plates 22 b, 22 c, and side plates 22 c, 22 d are likewisedisposed so that they are mutually substantially orthogonal, the same asthe side plates 22 d, 22 a. In addition, the side plate 22 e is disposedso that an angle α formed between the adjoining side plate 22 d and sideplate 22 a is approximately 135°. The side plates 22 f, 22 g are alsodisposed so that the angle formed between the adjoining side plates isapproximately 135°, the same as the side plate 22 e. Furthermore, theside plate 22 h is shaped differently than the other side plates 22 e,22 f, 22 g, and comprises a portion wherethrough passes a refrigerantpiping for exchanging refrigerants between a heat exchanger 6 (discussedlater) and an outdoor unit (not shown). In addition, each of the sideplates 22 e, 22 f, 22 g, 22 h is provided with a fixing bracket 23 usedwhen installing the casing main body 2 a in the space above the ceiling.Further, the lengths of the long sides and the short sides of the topplate 21 are set so that, in a plan view, the shape of the casing mainbody 2 a including the fixing brackets 23 becomes substantiallyquadrilateral.

<Face Panel>

The face panel 3 is a substantially quadrilateral plate shaped body, ina plan view, as shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4, and principallycomprises a panel main body 3 a fixed to a lower end part of the casingmain body 2 a. Here, FIG. 4 is a plan view of the face panel 3 of theair conditioner 1, viewed from inside the air conditioned room.

The panel main body 3 a is formed by an alternating sequence of aplurality (four in the present embodiment) of panel side parts 30 a, 30b, 30 c, 30 d (side parts) and a plurality (four in the presentembodiment) of panel corner parts 30 e, 30 f, 30 g, 30 h (corner parts).The panel side parts 30 a, 30 b, 30 c, 30 d are disposed so that theycorrespond respectively to the side plates 22 a, 22 b, 22 c, 22 d of thecasing main body 2 a. The panel corner parts 30 e, 30 f, 30 g, 30 h aredisposed so that they correspond respectively to the side plates 22 e,22 f, 22 g, 22 h of the casing main body 2 a.

The panel main body 3 a comprises: an inlet 31 that, substantially atthe center thereof, sucks in the air inside the air conditioned room,and a plurality (four in the present embodiment) of main outlets 32 a,32 b, 32 c, 32 d formed corresponding respectively to the panel sideparts 30 a, 30 b, 30 c, 30 d and that blow the air from inside thecasing main body 2 a out into the air conditioned room. The inlet 31 isa substantially square shaped opening in the present embodiment. Thefour main outlets 32 a, 32 b, 32 c, 32 d are substantially rectangularshaped openings that elongatingly extend so that they respectively runalong the panel side parts 30 a, 30 b, 30 c, 30 d.

In addition, at the lower surface of the panel main body 3 a is provideda square annular panel lower surface part 3 b disposed so that it issurrounded by the inlet 31 and surrounds the four main outlets 32 a, 32b, 32 c, 32 d. The panel lower surface part 3 b comprises edge parts onthe inlet 31 side of the main outlets 32 a, 32 b, 32 c, 32 d.Specifically, outer circumferential edge parts 39 a, 39 b, 39 c, 39 dcorresponding to the four sides of the panel lower surface part 3 b aredisposed so that, in a plan view of the face panel 3, they overlap withportions of the main outlets 32 a, 32 b, 32 c, 32 d on the inlet 31side.

Furthermore, an inlet grill 33, and a filter 34 for eliminating dust inthe air sucked in from the inlet 31 are provided at the inlet 31.

In addition, horizontal flaps 35 a, 35 b, 35 c, 35 d (horizontal flaps)capable of oscillating about an axis in the longitudinal direction arerespectively provided at the main outlets 32 a, 32 b, 32 c, 32 d. Thehorizontal flaps 35 a, 35 b, 35 c, 35 d are substantially rectangularshaped flap members elongatedly extending in the longitudinal directionof the respectively corresponding main outlets 32 a, 32 b, 32 c, 32 d,and linking pins 36 are respectively provided in the vicinity of bothend parts in the longitudinal direction thereof. Furthermore, thehorizontal flaps 35 a, 35 b, 35 c, 35 d are each rotatably supported tothe face panel 3 by the linking pins 36, making them oscillatable aboutthe axes of the main outlets 32 a, 32 b, 32 c, 32 d in the longitudinaldirection. In the three panel corner parts 30 e, 30 g, 30 h, exceptingthe panel corner part 30 f, a linking shaft 37 serves as a linkmechanism by mutually linking the adjoining linking pins 36. Taking thepanel corner part 30 e as an example, a linking shaft 37 links thelinking pin 36 on the panel corner part 30 e side of the horizontal flap35 d and the linking pin 36 on the panel corner part 30 e side of thehorizontal flap 35 a so that they rotate by the rotation of the linkingshaft 37. In addition, a drive shaft of a motor 38 is linked to thelinking shaft 37 disposed in the panel corner part 30 h. Thereby,driving the motor 38 synchronously oscillates the four horizontal flaps35 a, 35 b, 35 c, 35 d vertically via the linking shafts 37, and via thelinking pins 36 provided to the horizontal flaps 35 a, 35 b, 35 c, 35 d.Furthermore, oscillating these horizontal flaps 35 a, 35 b, 35 c, 35 denables the wind direction of an air current X blown out from each ofthe main outlets 32 a, 32 b, 32 c, 32 d into the air conditioned room tobe varied.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the wind direction of the air current Xblown out from the main outlet 32 b into the air conditioned room isvaried in the vertical direction from an angle β₁ to an angle β₂ withrespect to the lower surface of the ceiling U by the horizontal flap 35b. The wind direction of the air current blown out from each of theother main outlets 32 a, 32 c, 32 d into the air conditioned room arelikewise varied in the vertical direction from the angle β₁ to the angleβ₂ with respect to the lower surface of the ceiling U, the same as thewind direction of the air current X blown out from the main outlet 32 binto the air conditioned room. Here, FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of FIG.2, and depicts the vicinity of a main outlet passageway 12 b (discussedlater) corresponding to the main outlet 32 b.

Principally disposed inside the casing main body 2 a are: a fan 4 thatsucks the air inside the air conditioned room through the inlet 31 ofthe face panel 3 into the casing main body 2 a, and blows the same outin the outer circumferential direction; and a heat exchanger 6 disposedso that it surrounds the outer circumference of the fan 4.

The fan 4 in the present embodiment is a turbofan, and comprises: a fanmotor 41 provided in the center of the top plate 21 of the casing mainbody 2 a; and an impeller 42 linked to and rotatably driven by the fanmotor 41. The impeller 42 comprises: a disc shaped end plate 43 linkedto the fan motor 41; a plurality of blades 44 provided at the outercircumferential part of the lower surface of the end plate 43; and adisc shaped end ring 45 provided on the lower side of the blade 44 andhaving an opening at the center. The fan 4 can suck in air through theopening of the end ring 45 to the interior of the impeller 42 by therotation of the blades 44, and can blow out the air sucked into theimpeller 42 to the outer circumferential side of the impeller 42.

In the present embodiment, the heat exchanger 6 is a cross finned tubetype heat exchanger panel formed bent so that it surrounds the outercircumference of the fan 4, and is connected via the refrigerant pipingto the outdoor unit (not shown) installed outdoors, and the like. Theheat exchanger 6 can function as an evaporator of the refrigerantflowing internally during cooling operation, and as a condenser of therefrigerant flowing internally during heating operation. Thereby, theheat exchanger 6 exchanges heat with the air sucked in by the fan 4through the inlet 31 into the casing main body 2 a, and can cool the airduring cooling operation and heat the air during heating operation.

A drain pan 7 is disposed on the lower side of the heat exchanger 6 forreceiving drain water generated by the condensation of water in the airin the heat exchanger 6. The drain pan 7 is attached to the lower partof the casing main body 2 a. The drain pan 7 comprises: an inlet hole 71formed so that it communicates with the inlet 31 of the face panel 3;four main outlet holes 72 a, 72 b, 72 c, 72 d formed so that theycommunicate with the main outlets 32 a, 32 b, 32 c, 32 d of the facepanel 3; and a drain water receiving groove 73 formed on the lower sideof the heat exchanger 6 and that receives the drain water. Here, themain outlet holes 72 a, 72 b, 72 c, 72 d are shorter than the lengths ofthe respective corresponding main outlets 32 a, 32 b, 32 c, 32 d in thelongitudinal direction. In particular, the main outlet hole 72 c isshorter than the lengths of the other main outlet holes 72 a, 72 b, 72 din the longitudinal direction because it is interposed between: a drainpump 8 for discharging the drain water collected in the drain waterreceiving groove 73 disposed on the side plate 22 g side; and theportion through which the refrigerant piping passes on the side plate 22h side.

Furthermore, with the inlet 31 of the face panel 3, the inlet hole 71forms an inlet passageway that serves as the substantial inlet thatsucks in the air inside the air conditioned room into the casing mainbody 2 a. In addition, the main outlet holes 72 a, 72 b, 72 c, 72 d inconjunction with the main outlets 32 a, 32 b, 32 c, 32 d of the facepanel 3, which communicate respectively therewith, form main outletpassageways 12 a, 12 b, 12 c, 12 d that serve as the substantial mainoutlets that blow out the air whose heat was exchanged in the heatexchanger 6 into the air conditioned room. In other words, with the airconditioner 1 of the present embodiment, the lower part of the casing 2comprises the face panel 3 and the drain pan 7, and at the lower part ofthis casing 2 are formed the inlet passageway and main outletpassageways 12 a, 12 b, 12 c, 12 d that serve as the substantial inletand main outlets.

In addition, a bell mouth 5 for guiding the air sucked in from the inlet31 to the impeller 42 of the fan 4 is disposed in the inlet hole 71 ofthe drain pan 7.

(2) Auxiliary Outlet Structure, and Peripheral Configuration Thereof

The air conditioner 1 having the basic constitution as described abovefurther comprises a plurality (four in the present embodiment) ofauxiliary outlets 32 e, 32 f, 32 g, 32 h formed so that they correspondrespectively to the panel corner parts 30 e, 30 f, 30 g, 30 h of theface panel 3, and that blow the air from inside the casing main body 2 aout into the air conditioned room, as shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 8.Here, FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of FIG. 2, and depicts the vicinity ofthe auxiliary outlet passageway 12 e (discussed later) corresponding tothe auxiliary outlet 32 e. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of FIG. 4, anddepicts the vicinity of the auxiliary outlet 32 e (a broken view of onepart of the panel lower surface part 3 b). FIG. 8 is a cross sectionalview taken along the C-C line in FIG. 3.

The four auxiliary outlets 32 e, 32 f, 32 g, 32 h are, in a plan view ofthe face panel 3, substantially rectangular shaped openings formed sothat they respectively run along the side plates 22 e, 22 f, 22 g, 22 hof the casing main body 2 a. Here, the opening area S₂ of each of theauxiliary outlets 32 e, 32 f, 32 g, 32 h is less than the opening areaS₁ of each of the main outlets 32 a, 32 b, 32 c, 32 d.

In addition, the portions of the auxiliary outlets 32 e, 32 f, 32 g, 32h on the inlet 31 side are disposed, in a plan view of the face panel 3,so that they overlap the outer circumferential corner parts 39 e, 39 f,39 g, 39 h between the outer circumferential edge parts 39 a, 39 b, 39c, 39 d of the panel lower surface part 3 b. Consequently, the panellower surface part 3 b comprises not only the edge parts of the mainoutlets 32 a, 32 b, 32 c, 32 d on the inlet 31 side, but also the edgeparts of the auxiliary outlets 32 e, 32 f, 32 g, 32 h on the inlet 31side. Further, the surfaces on the auxiliary outlets 32 e, 32 f, 32 g,32 h side of these outer circumferential corner parts 39 e, 39 f, 39 g,39 h are formed so that the air blown out from each of the auxiliaryoutlets 32 e, 32 f, 32 g, 32 h into the air conditioned room is blownout in an inclined, downward, fixed direction.

Moreover, a horizontal flap for varying the wind direction of theblown-out air current is not provided at each of the auxiliary outlets32 e, 32 f, 32 g, 32 h, unlike the main outlets 32 a, 32 b, 32 c, 32 d.Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, the wind direction of the aircurrent blown out from the auxiliary outlet 32 e into the airconditioned room is a direction formed by the angle γ (≈β₁/2+β₂/2),which is the direction of substantially the middle of the range by whichthe horizontal flaps 35 d, 35 a provided at the adjoining main outlets32 d, 32 a regulate in the vertical direction the wind direction of theair current blown out from each of the main outlets 32 d, 32 a(specifically, the range from the angle β₁ to the angle β₂ with respectto the lower surface of the ceiling U). The wind direction of the aircurrent blown out from each of the other auxiliary outlets 32 f, 32 g,32 h into the air conditioned room are also the direction formed by theangle γ with respect to the lower surface of the ceiling U, the same asthe wind direction of the air current Y blown out from the auxiliaryoutlet 32 e into the air conditioned room.

In addition, the drain pan 7 further comprises three auxiliary outletholes 72 e, 72 f, 72 g formed so that they communicate with theauxiliary outlets 32 e, 32 f, 32 g of the face panel 3. Here, in thepresent embodiment, an auxiliary outlet hole is not formed at theposition corresponding to the auxiliary outlet 32 h of the face panel 3of the drain pan 7. Consequently, in the present embodiment, theauxiliary outlet 32 h of the face panel 3 does not have the function ofblowing the air sucked into the casing main body 2 a out toward theinside of the air conditioned room. Here, the auxiliary outlet hole 72 eis substantially the same length as the corresponding auxiliary outlet32 e in the longitudinal direction, but the auxiliary outlet hole 72 fis shorter than the length of the corresponding auxiliary outlet 32 f inthe longitudinal direction because one part of the drain water receivinggroove 73 protrudes on the side plate 22 a side. In addition, theauxiliary outlet hole 72 g is shorter than the length of thecorresponding auxiliary outlet 32 g in the longitudinal directionbecause the drain pump 8 is disposed on the side plate 22 c side.

Furthermore, the three auxiliary outlet holes 72 e, 72 f, 72 g inconjunction with the auxiliary outlets 32 e, 32 f, 32 g of the facepanel 3, which communicates therewith, form three auxiliary outletpassageways 12 e, 12 f, 12 g that blow the air whose heat was exchangedin the heat exchanger 6 out into the air conditioned room. In otherwords, with the air conditioner 1 of the present embodiment, thefollowing are formed at the lower part of the casing 2 comprising theface panel 3 and the drain pan 7: the inlet passageway and the mainoutlet passageways 12 a, 12 b, 12 c, 12 d that serve as the substantialinlet and main outlets; and the auxiliary outlet passageways 12 e, 12 f,12 g that serve as the substantial auxiliary outlets.

In the present embodiment, linking shafts 37, for mutually connectingthe linking pins 36 of the horizontal flaps 35 a, 35 b, 35 c, 35 dprovided at the main outlets 32 a, 32 b, 32 c, 32 d, are disposed at thepanel corner parts 30 e, 30 f, 30 h wherein the auxiliary outlets 32 e,32 f, 32 h are provided. Taking the auxiliary outlet 32 e as an example,the linking shaft 37 is disposed, in a plan view of the face panel 3, onthe inlet 31 side of the auxiliary outlet 32 e. Moreover, the linkingpin 36 provided at the end part on the panel corner part 30 e side ofthe horizontal flap 35 a is provided at a position on the inner side ofthe end part of the horizontal flap 35 a in the longitudinal directionand at a position on the upper side of the flap portion of thehorizontal flap 35 a, and is rotatably supported by the bearing part 3 cof the panel main body 3 a. Consequently, in a plan view of the facepanel 3, the connection part between the linking shaft 37 and thelinking pins 36, i.e., the linking shaft 37, is further constituted sothat it is disposed on the inlet 31 side.

(3) Operation of the Air Conditioner

The following explains the operation of the air conditioner 1,referencing FIG. 2, FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6.

When operation starts, the fan motor 41 is driven, which rotates theimpeller 42 of the fan 4. In addition, along with the driving of the fanmotor 41, refrigerant is supplied from the outdoor unit (not shown) tothe inside of the heat exchanger 6. Here, the heat exchanger 6 functionsas an evaporator during cooling operation, and as a condenser duringheating operation. Further, attendant with the rotation of the impeller42, the air inside the air conditioned room is sucked from the inlet 31of the face panel 3 through the filter 34 and the bell mouth 5 into thecasing main body 2 a from the lower side of the fan 4. This sucked inair is blown out to the outer circumferential side by the impeller 42,reaches the heat exchanger 6, is cooled or heated in the heat exchanger6, and then blown through the main outlet holes 72 a, 72 b, 72 c, 72 dand the main outlets 32 a, 32 b, 32 c, 32 d (i.e., the main outletpassageways 12 a, 12 b, 12 c, 12 d), and the auxiliary outlet holes 72e, 72 f, 72 g and the auxiliary outlets 32 e, 32 f, 32 g (i.e., theauxiliary outlet passageways 12 e, 12 f, 12 g) out into the airconditioned room. In so doing, the inside of the air conditioned room iscooled or heated.

Here, the wind direction of the air current X blown from each of themain outlets 32 a, 32 b, 32 c, 32 d out into the air conditioned room isregulated by the horizontal flaps 35 a, 35 b, 35 c, 35 d to within thewind direction regulation range (specifically, the range from the angleβ₁ to the angle β₂ with respect to the lower surface of the ceiling U).However, the air current Y blown from each of the auxiliary outlets 32e, 32 f, 32 g out into the air conditioned room is blown out in thedirection of the angle γ, which is the direction of substantially themiddle of the wind direction regulation range of the horizontal flaps 35a, 35 b, 35 c, 35 d with respect to the lower surface of the ceiling U.

However, taking the auxiliary outlet 32 e as an example, the auxiliaryoutlet 32 e is disposed at the panel corner part 30 e adjoining the mainoutlet 32 d and the main outlet 32 a, and is consequently easilyaffected by the air current X blown out from the main outlet 32 d andthe main outlet 32 a into the air conditioned room. Specifically, theair current Y blown out from the auxiliary outlet 32 e is dragged by theair current X blown out from the adjoining main outlet 32 d and mainoutlet 32 a, and its direction tends to vary. Consequently, theoscillation by the horizontal flaps 35 d, 35 a provided at the mainoutlets 32 d, 32 a changes the direction of the air current Y blown outfrom the auxiliary outlet 32 e so that it proceeds in a direction thesame as the wind direction of this air current X.

Thereby, if the wind direction of the air current X blown out from eachof the main outlets 32 d, 32 a is regulated to an angle less than thewind direction of the air current Y (i.e., the direction of the angle γwith respect to the lower surface of the ceiling U) blown out from theauxiliary outlet 32 e, then the wind direction of the air current Yblown out from the auxiliary outlet 32 e is dragged thereby, and becomesless than the angle γ. Conversely, if the wind direction of the aircurrent X blown out from each of the main outlets 32 d, 32 a isregulated to an angle greater than the wind direction of the air currentY (i.e., the direction of the angle γ with respect to the lower surfaceof the ceiling U) blown out from the auxiliary outlet 32 e, then thewind direction of the air current Y blown out from the auxiliary outlet32 e is dragged thereto, and becomes greater than the angle γ.

Thus, the wind direction of the air current Y blown out from theauxiliary outlet 32 e can be varied even if blown out in a fixeddirection, without providing a mechanism, such as the horizontal flaps,for varying in the vertical direction the wind direction of the airblown out from the auxiliary outlet 32 e. Furthermore, the blow-outdirection of the air current Y for each of the other auxiliary outlets32 f, 32 g can also be varied in accordance with changes in the winddirection of the air current X blown out from each of the contiguousmain outlets, without providing a mechanism, such as the horizontalflaps, the same as the auxiliary outlet 32 e.

In addition, the opening area S₂ of each of the auxiliary outlets 32 e,32 f, 32 g is less than the opening area S₁ of each of the main outlets32 a, 32 b, 32 c, 32 d, which significantly does not decrease the flowspeed of the air blown out from each of the main outlets 32 a, 32 b, 32c, 32 d; consequently, providing the auxiliary outlets 32 e, 32 f, 32 genables the satisfactory air current distribution inside the airconditioned room, as well as enables the air blown out from each of themain outlets 32 a, 32 b, 32 c, 32 d to reach as far as possible.

(4) Characteristics of the Air Conditioner

The air conditioner 1 of the present embodiment has the followingcharacteristics.

(A)

With the air conditioner 1 of the present embodiment, the provision ofthe horizontal flaps 35 a, 35 b, 35 c, 35 d, which are oscillatableabout the axes of the main outlets 32 a, 32 b, 32 c, 32 d in thelongitudinal direction, enables the variation of the wind direction ofthe air current X blown out from each of the main outlets 32 a, 32 b, 32c, 32 d; however, the circumferential edge part of each of the auxiliaryoutlets 32 e, 32 f, 32 g, 32 h (in the present embodiment, the surfaceson the auxiliary outlets 32 e, 32 f, 32 g, 32 h side of the outercircumferential corner parts 39 e, 39 f, 39 g, 39 h of the panel lowersurface part 3 b) is only constituted so that the air current Y blownout from each of the auxiliary outlets 32 e, 32 f, 32 g is blown out ina fixed direction, and the auxiliary outlets 32 e, 32 f, 32 g, 32 h arenot provided with mechanisms, such as the horizontal flaps.

Even with such a constitution, the flow volume of the air blown out intothe air conditioned room by the provision of the auxiliary outlets 32 e,32 f, 32 g can be increased, the air current distribution inside the airconditioned room can be made satisfactory, and the constitution forregulating the blow-out direction can be simplified because: thedirection of the air current Y blown out from each of the auxiliaryoutlets 32 e, 32 f, 32 g can be varied by taking advantage of thecharacteristic wherein the air current Y blown out from each of theauxiliary outlets 32 e, 32 f, 32 g is dragged by the air current X blownout from each of the adjoining main outlets 32 a, 32 b, 32 c, 32 d,thereby changing the blow-out direction without providing a mechanism,such as the horizontal flaps, for varying the wind direction in thevertical direction of the air current Y blown out from each of theauxiliary outlets 32 e, 32 f, 32 g.

Moreover, because the vertical blow-out direction of the air current Yblown out from each of the auxiliary outlets 32 e, 32 f, 32 g is thedirection of substantially the middle of the range by which thehorizontal flaps 35 a, 35 b, 35 c, 35 d vertically regulate the winddirection of the blow-out direction of the air current X blown out fromeach of the main outlets 32 a, 32 b, 32 c, 32 d, the air current Y blownout from each of the auxiliary outlets 32 e, 32 f, 32 g is blown out ina direction close to the blow-out direction of the air current X blownout from each of the main outlets 32 a, 32 b, 32 c, 32 d, and is thuseasily affected by the air current X blown out from each of the mainoutlets 32 a, 32 b, 32 c, 32 d. Thereby, the tracking characteristicsimprove when changing the wind direction of the air current Y dragged bythe air current X blown out from each of the main outlets 32 a, 32 b, 32c, 32 d and blown out from each of the auxiliary outlets 32 e, 32 f, 32g, and the air current distribution inside the air conditioned room canthereby be more satisfactorily maintained.

In addition, because the opening area S₂ of each of the auxiliaryoutlets 32 e, 32 f, 32 g, 32 h is less than the opening area S₁ of eachof the main outlets 32 a, 32 b, 32 c, 32 d, the flow speed of the aircurrent blown out from each of the main outlets 32 a, 32 b, 32 c, 32 ddoes not decrease significantly, and the provision of the auxiliaryoutlets 32 e, 32 f, 32 g thereby enables the satisfactory air currentdistribution inside the air conditioned room, and enables the aircurrent X blown out from each of the main outlets 32 a, 32 b, 32 c, 32 dto reach as far as possible.

(B)

With the air conditioner 1 of the present embodiment, by disposing thelinking shafts 37, which serve as link mechanisms for mutually andsynchronously oscillating the horizontal flaps 35 a, 35 b, 35 c, 35 dprovided at the main outlets 32 a, 32 b, 32 c, 32 d, on the inlet 31side of the auxiliary outlets 32 e, 32 f, 32 h, it is possible toprovide both the auxiliary outlets 32 e, 32 f, 32 g, 32 h and thelinking shafts 37 at the panel corner parts 30 e, 30 f, 30 g, 30 h,without having to make modifications, such as increasing the plan shapeof the casing main body 2 a (specifically, the top plate 21).

For example, with the air conditioner 1 of the present embodiment, thelong sides and the short sides of the top plate 21 are set so that theplan shape of the casing main body 2 a, including the fixing brackets23, is substantially a quadrilateral shape, but this dimensionalrelationship does not need to be modified.

Moreover, the horizontal flaps 35 a, 35 b, 35 c, 35 d comprise thelinking pins 36 linked to the linking shafts 37 at a position in thelongitudinal direction on the inner side of the end part in thelongitudinal direction thereof, and the linking shafts 37 canconsequently be further disposed on the inlet 31 side of the auxiliaryoutlets 32 e, 32 f, 32 h, thus enabling the auxiliary outlets 32 e, 32f, 32 g, 32 h to be easily formed at the panel corner parts 30 e, 30 f,30 g, 30 h.

(5) Other Embodiments

The above explained an embodiment of the present invention based on thedrawings, but the specific constitution is not limited to theseembodiments, and it is understood that variations and modifications maybe effected without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

(A)

In the abovementioned embodiment, although the auxiliary outlets 32 e,32 f, 32 g, 32 h are formed so that they correspond to all of the panelcorner parts 30 e, 30 f, 30 g, 30 h, an auxiliary outlet holecorresponding to the auxiliary outlet 32 h is not provided in the drainpan 7; consequently, of the four auxiliary outlets 32 e, 32 f, 32 g, 32h, only the three auxiliary outlets 32 e, 32 f, 32 g function assubstantial auxiliary outlets, however, the air inside the casing mainbody 2 a may be blown out from the auxiliary outlet 32 h into the airconditioned room by forming the auxiliary outlet hole 72 h also at aposition corresponding to the auxiliary outlet 32 h of the drain pan 7,and by providing the auxiliary outlet passageway 12 h, as shown in FIG.9 (a schematic plan cross sectional view of the air conditioneraccording to another embodiment, and a view equivalent to FIG. 3).Thereby, the air can be blown from all four panel side parts 30 a, 30 b,30 c, 30 d and all four panel corner parts 30 e, 30 f, 30 g, 30 h of theface panel 3 out into the air conditioned room, and the distribution ofthe air blown out into the air conditioned room can be made furthersatisfactory.

(B)

In the abovementioned embodiments, the auxiliary outlets 32 e, 32 f, 32g, 32 h are formed at all panel corner parts 30 e, 30 f, 30 g, 30 h, butis preferably formed in a state wherein the air inside the casing mainbody 2 a can be blown out to at least one of the panel corner parts 30e, 30 f, 30 g, 30 h (i.e., in a state wherein the auxiliary outlet holesare formed in the drain pan 7). Even in this case, the wind direction ofthe air blown out from each of the auxiliary outlets can be variedwithout providing mechanisms, such as the horizontal flaps, for varyingin the vertical direction the wind direction of the air blown out fromthe auxiliary outlets; consequently, the air current distribution insidethe air conditioned room can be made satisfactory, and the structure forregulating the blow-out direction can be simplified.

(C)

In the abovementioned embodiments, the present invention was applied toa ceiling embedded type air conditioner, but is also applicable to aceiling suspended type air conditioner.

INDUSTRIAL FIELD OF APPLICATION

The use of the present invention enables, in an air conditioner providedin the ceiling of an air conditioned room, the satisfactory air currentdistribution inside the air conditioned room, and the simplification ofthe structure for regulating the wind direction of the air currentsblown out from each of the outlets.

1. An air conditioner provided in a ceiling of an air conditioned room,comprising: a casing including: a casing lower part formed by analternating sequence of four side parts and four corner parts, mainoutlets disposed along each of said side parts, an inlet surrounded byall of said side parts, and auxiliary outlets disposed at in least oneof said four corner parts; and horizontal flaps rotatable supportedabout He longitudinal axes of said main outlets and configured to vary awind direction of an air current blown out from each of said mainoutlets, each of said auxiliary outlets having a circumferential edgepart formed so that air is blown out from each of said auxiliary outletsin a fixed direction.
 2. The air conditioner as recited in claim 1,wherein each of said auxiliary outlets has an opening area that is lessthan an opening area of each of said main outlets.
 3. The An airconditioner as recited in claim 1 wherein the fixed direction is avertical blow-out direction of the air that is a direction ofsubstantially a middle of a range by which each of said horizontal flapsvertically regulate the wind direction of the air current blown out fromeach of said main outlets.
 4. The air conditioner as recited in claim 1,further comprising link mechanisms configured to mutually andsynchronously oscillate two adjoining horizontal flaps, said linkmechanisms being provided said four corner parts, and each of said linkmechanisms being disposed on an inlet side of each of said auxiliaryoutlets.
 5. The air conditioner as recited in claim 4, wherein each ofsaid two adjoining horizontal flaps has a linking pins provided in alongitudinal direction of a corresponding one of said horizontal flaps,said linking pin being axially supported by said casing lower part, andlinked to a corresponding one of said link mechanisms.
 6. The An airconditioner as recited in claim 2 wherein the fixed direction is avertical blow-out direction of the air that is a direction ofsubstantially a middle of a range by which each of said horizontal flapsvertically regulate the wind direction of the air current blown out fromeach of said main outlets.
 7. The air conditioner as recited in claim 2,further comprising link mechanisms configured to mutually andsynchronously oscillate two adjoining horizontal flaps, said linkmechanisms being provided at said four corner parts, and each of saidlink mechanisms being disposed on an inlet side of each of saidauxiliary outlets.
 8. The air conditioner as recited in claim 7, whereineach of said two adjoining horizontal flaps has a linking pin providedin a longitudinal direction of a corresponding one of said horizontalflaps, said linking pin being axially supported by said casing lowerpart, and linked to a corresponding one of said link mechanisms.
 9. Theair conditioner as recited in claim 3, further comprising linkmechanisms configured to mutually and synchronously oscillate twoadjoining horizontal flaps, said link mechanisms being provided at saidfour corner parts, and each of said link mechanisms being disposed on aninlet side of each of said auxiliary outlets.
 10. The air conditioner asrecited in claim 9, wherein each of said two adjoining horizontal flapshas a linking pin provided in a longitudinal direction of acorresponding one of said horizontal flaps, said linking pin beingaxially supported by said casing lower part, and linked to acorresponding one of said link mechanisms.